Fabricated brake beam



Oct- 13; 1953 E. J. slMANEK FABRICATED BRAKE BEAM NNN W NNN QNN 55W.

Filed April 18, 1/950 Patented Oct. 13, 1953 n 2,655,235 FABRICATEDBRAKE BEAM Edward J. Simanek, Chicago, Ill., assignor VI:o

American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New JerseyApplication April 18, 1950, Serial No. 156,643

(Cl. 18S-228.6)

19 Claims. 1

This invention relates to brake beams and more particularly to a noveltype of fabricated beam.

A general object of the invention is to provide a fabricated beamwherein the parts are arranged in a simple and eiiicient manner foreconomical manufacture and to withstand the severe abuse encountered inservice` A further object of the invention is to devise a novelfabricated truss wherein the tension member is afforded a single,effective and exceptionally rigid connection with the compressionmember.

A more specific object of the invention is to design a brake beam with atwo strap tension member, one of the straps extending through thecompression member and having its ends connected against the rear sideofthe compression member and the other of the straps being connectedagainst the forwardside of the compression member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a beam wherein theconnection of the tension member with the compression member includesbending the extremities of one strap rearwardly around the ends of thecompression member and bending the extremities of the other strapforwardly around the extermities of the one strap.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a truss structureof the type described wherein adjacent ends of the straps may beconnected to the compression member by a single connection such as arivet.

A different object of the invention is to provide a brake beam whereinthe brake heads are removable from the truss without disassembling thetruss.

The invention contemplates in one modification a novel pocket on theoutboard side of the brake head for snugly confining the extermities ofthe tension member straps to resistvthe possibility of the extremitiesunbending from around the ends of the compression member.

The invention comprehends in an embodimen thereof an arrangement whereinone strap aiords a seat for the brake head and the other strap isindependent of the head.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent fromthe specification and the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of one form of the brake beam partly inhorizontal section, the section being taken substantially on the lineI-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is an end view partly in section, the section being takensubstantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the invention, Figure 3being a top plan view partly in horizontal section, the section beingtaken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 4; and

Figure 4 being an end view of Figure 3 partly in section, the sectionbeing taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Describing the invention in detail and referring first to the embodimentshown in Figures 1 and 2, the brake beam comprises tension andcompression members, generally designated 2 and 4. The tension andcompression members are connected intermediate their ends at the centerof the beam by a strut, generally designated B. The compression memberis of channel form and comprises top and bottom rearwardly extendingwebs or flanges 8 and I0, and an intervening front wall I2. The frontwall I2 is provided with openings I4, I4 adjacent each end through whichextend the ends of an inner or rear strap .I6 of the tension member. Itwill be noted that the tension member at opposite sides of the strut 6is angled rearwardly toward the respective ends of the compressionmember. The end portions I8, I8 of the rear strap I 6 are bent generallyparallel to wall I2 and seat as at 20, 20 against the rear side of thefront wall I2 of the compression member outboardly of the openings I4.The rear strap I6 seats on its forward side against the rear side of afront strap 22 of the tension member.

The front and rear straps are iitted within' a socket 24 in the forwardend of the fulcrum or strut 6. The rear end of the strut comprises aiiange or base 2B secured by the plurality of rivets 28, 28 to the frontwall I2 of the compression member. j

Both straps I6 and 22, which constitute the tension member, extend thefull length thereof and define bifurcated end portions. The strap 22comprises end portions 3D, 3i) at each end bent approximately parallelto the wall I2 and seated at their rear sides as at 32 against theforward face of the front wall I2 of the compression member. Adjacentportions I8 and 3U are connected against the web I2 in any suitablemanner preferably as by rivet 34, the rivet passing throughcomplementary aligned openings in the portions I8 and 32 andwall I2.

It will be "noted that the tension member may be a single bar andmay bebifurcatecl at its ends, however-,"thepr' lent structure is preferred,inasmuch as it leand possesses much greater Strength.

` 22 are hooked around the 2, the strap v22 is, bent rearemities toprovide rearwardly extending flanges 36, 36 in abutment at their inboardsides as at 38 with the adjacent outer edge of the wall I2. The outerextremities of the strap I6 are bent forwardly around the ends of thewall |2 to provide flanges 40 in abutment at their inboard sides as `at42|with theoutboard sides of respective flanges 36. Thus the tensionmember, in addition to being connected at each end by the rivet 34 tothe compression member, also connected around the ends ofthe compressionmember. are very small, it will be readilyunderstood,that they are verydifficult to.,`unbendfand serve as efficient anchors for the tensionmember, thus reducing shearing stresses on the rivets 34.

A brake head, generally*indicated-144,t is mounted at each end of thetrussVY structure d formed by the tensiongand compression meml ber. V46with a plurality of lugs48', 48 thereon. vadapted Eachbrake rheadcomprises a front wall to afford a connection for an associated brakeshoe,. as will be lreadily understood by those skilled in the art. yThehead,` is provided withI .Y a hanger socket50 Vintermediate its endsopen in a throat 5I through Athelforwardsidev of the tosuspend thebrakebeam' from an associated truck structure, Aas will bereadilyunderstood by thoseV skilled inV the arti The front wall.46

is connected at itsrear side` tothe forward 'edges l of top and bottomseetionsof a rear wan 54. The topand bottom sections 54 andthe top andbottom-portions Vofthe front wall'46 are connected to an intermediateportion' 56, within which is formed the above-mentioned socket 50.

- and bottom rearwardly extending, generally horizontal flanges 53.and"60. The ilanges158 y and 60 and the rear side `of the intermediateportion 56 of Atheheadform a truss receiving cavity 62 within whichextendlthe adjacent ends of` the tension and compression members. The

. top web`58 of the head overlies the top web 8 of the compressionmember and is connected there- .to by a plurality of rivets 64. Thebottom flange j 4i60 of the, brake head underlies the bottom flange "Iof the compression memberA and is connected thereto by a series' ofrivets4 661. It will be noted 'that theA top and bottom flanges 58and'60of thebrake head extend a considerable distance inboardly ofthe inboardside `of. the brake head and beyondthe inboard extremity yof theVadjacent opening |4 in the front Wallof the compression member in orderto strengthen -this area of the beam.

" The rear side'of theintermediate portion 56 The front face i of therear side of theintermediate portion 56 of the related brake head Withinthe recess 68 therein.' It will be noted that the rivet headat Atheforward end iof rivet 34 is countersunk withinthe portion 30 toprovide aflat seat against portion 56. The, head is alsogseated on the'rearsideofportion56 as Yat 12,'12 along spaced areas above and belowportion`30 against the forward Vface of wall VI2 of; the compressionmember. The brake'head is providedat its inboard `end with an `abutment14 extending inboardlyv from the inboard side thereof in order Vtoprovide a bearing or. abutment/for Vthe .tensionmember 4, said'abutmentaffording a seatas at 16'at'lts Inasmuch as the flanges36 andr40' 4 rearside against the forward side of the strap 22 adjacent its juncture withits end portion 30.

Referring now to the embodiment, shown in Figures 3 and 4, the brakebeam comprises ten- 5 sion and compression members |00 and |02 in-.terconnected:.intermediate,their .ends by a. ful- The compressionmember is of channel form aand comprises top and bottom Webs |06 and |081o vextending forwardly from an intervening rear zi-lwall#I0-The rearwall is provided adjacent eachend thereofwith an opening I|2 throughLwhichextend'jthe ends of a rear strap ||4 of if-thtensiorimmber |00- yThe strap |I4 is provided with end portions |6-at-'-eachffendrbentgenerally parallel to the rear .walll |0 and seated on their forwardfaces as`at 'IIB against therear side of the wall I|0 outboardly of, theadjacent opening ||2. The zostrapY ||4-is-iseatedat 'its forwardsideagainst :the rear side-'ofv astrap |20, said straps being 'ttedintermediatetheir ends within a socket 1"|22 in thevfront endl of afulcrum |04.` The rear Aendof the fulcrum nextends vbetween the lWebs25106- and AVI 08--of the -compression member `and seats as at I24against the forward face of wall IIB-'and is secured'thereto as-byVrivets |26, |26. --"Ihe front strap comprises end portions '128.128,-which-are 'bent generally parallelI tothe 3o t Wal1| IB'and-seaton therear sides against the forward sidevof wall |I0 outboardly of" the re-'spective-openings ||2. A rivet -|30 vextends throughadjacentportions||6 and-|23 and wall |0,fsecuring the same to` each other.A Theten-"sion-member is additionally anchored to the Mcompression" memberby'being hooked around the ends of----th`e---compression member. Thisanchoring is 'affordedfby bending the extremities of the strap |20rearwardly to provideiiianges 40 A-I32 inabutmentat their inboardsides'as at |34 against therespective ends of therwall I |0. The

strap ||4-is bent atfitsextremities around the ends of the compressionmember to provide for- --WardlyA extending flanges |36 which'abutias at|38 -at -their inboardvsides against the outboard sides Aoftherespective flanges I 32.

Y The'arrangement-of -thertension and compres- -1sion-membersconstitutes a truss structure at '-each-endjof-which is-mounted abrakehead, 5Q-generally-1indicated |40. Each brake yhead comprises a frontWall |42 which isbroken apart I'intermediate itsf ends to provide athroat |44 Which-leads into a socket- |46 formed within anintermediateAportioni|481of the brake head. The socket receives a hanger|50 thereinpthe hangerwbeing adapted to suspend the beam fromVvantassociated-supportstructure such as a truck frame (not shown)." Thefront wall is provided with al plurality of Llugs |52 on the forwardface 6G thereof adapted-to afford a usual seat and connectionforassociated brakev shoe means (not vvvshown)V as willbe readilyunderstood vby those V:slnlled'in the art. The front walll is connectedWon-itsfrear-side `to theforward edges of top and bottom portions of`a-rear wall |54, said portions amer-ging with the -top and bottomsidesof the Y--intermediate-Vportion|48 and with rearwardly extending top and,bottomY webs |56 and |58. lThe top-and bottom'websand the rearvside ofd-theflintermediatcportion-|48 form a truss re- The top web |56 overlapsthe top web |06 f- -and thev bottomwebVV |58 underlaps D the Vbottom webf'| 0 8. AleThe brake head issecured to the truss structure by means ofa rivet |62 Whichspasses rivet also passes through aV complementaryopening in a spacer |64 which is snugly tted between the top and bottomWebs |06 and |08 of the compression member in order to prevent acollapse of these webs when the rivet is applied. The spacer |64 alsoprovides a seat as at |66 for the tension member |00 on the forward faceof strap |20 at the bend or inner end of thel portion |28 of strap |20.

The brake head is provided on its inboard side with an inboardlyextending abutment or lug 66, said abutment being disposed inboardly ofthe spacer |64 and extending between the webs |06 and |08 and affordinga seat for the tension member as at |10 on the forward face of strap |20at a point inboardly of the juncture with its end portion |28. Thecavity |60 is closed at its outboard end by an outboard wall |'|2, saidoutboard wall being offset outboardly adjacent the rear of the head toprovide an inboardly facing pocket |74, said pockety snugly receivingthe outer extremities of the straps I4 and |20, namely the anges |32 and|36, and providing an inboardly facing surface |'|6 tightly engaged withan outboardly facing surface on the outboard side of the adjacent flange|36. It will be readily understood that this type of connection andpocketing of the extremities of the tension member prevents theilangeshll and |36 from unbending from around thef end ofthe compressionmember When loads are applied tothe tension member.

Iclaim:

1. In a brake'beam, aftmssstructure comprising a channelcompressionmember, having top and bottom webs .and an-intervening wall, said wallhaving openingsadjacent" the ends of said compression memben a" tensionmember, a fulcrum interconne'ctingfsaid members substantially centrallyof the beam, said tension member comprising forwardand rear strapsextending longitudinally in adjacent relationship, the forward vstraphaving end portions bent generally parallel to said Wall and seated attheir rear sides against the forward face of said wall outboardly ofsaid l openings and having their extremities bent rearwardly aroundrespective ends of the wall, said rear strap extending adjacent each endthrough said openings and having end portions bent generally parallel tosaid wall and seated on their .forward faces against the rear side ofsaid wall outboardly of said openings and bentforwardly at theirextremities around respective rearwardly bent extremities of said'frontstrap, means interconnecting adjacent portions of the front and rearstraps to said wall, a brake head at each end of said structurelcomprising a socket having a rearwardly facing surface in abutment withforwardly facing surfaces on said compression member above and below theadjacent end portions, each head having top and bottom webs connected tothe top and bottom webs of said compression member.

2. A brake beam comprising tension and compression members and a fulcrumtherebetween forming a truss structure, said compression membercomprising spaced generally horizontal top and bottom webs and anintervening wall, said wall having openings therethrough -adjacent itsends, said tension member having abutting front and rear straps, therear strap having end portions extending through the openings and seatedagainst the rear side of the wall outboardly of the openings, said frontstrap having end portions seated against the forward side of the wall` ioutboardly of saidopenings, the end portions of one strap havingsegments bent around the ends of said `Wall and theend portions of theother strap Ihaving segments bent around the nrstmentioned segments,means connecting adjacent portions of the front and rear straps to eachother and to said wall of the compression member outboardly of saidopenings, brake head members mounted on theY ends of said trussstructure, and abutment means connected to vat least one of thementioned members disposed inboardly of said means and in abutment withthe front face of the front strap' of thev tension member in an areaadjacent the juncture of the end portions of the front strap with theremainder thereof.

3. In a brake beam, a truss structure compris` ing a channel compressionmember having a generally vertical wall, a tension member, a strutextending between said vmembers intermediate their ends and having asocket at its forward end receiving said tension member and seated atits rear end against the forward f-ace of said wall and connectedthereto, said Wall having openings therethrough adjacent each end of thebeam, said tension member having a rear strap extending at its endsthrough the openings and against the rear side of the wall, said tensionmember having a forward strap abutting at its ends against the forwardface of said Wall, a rivet at each end of the compression memberextending through adjacent portions of the straps and said wall, and abrake head on each end of said structure.

4. A brake beam, comprising a truss structure, having a U-sectioncompression member with a generally vertical front wall and top andbottom webs extending rearwardly therefrom, said front wall having anopening adjacent each end, a tension member comprising a pair of strapsextending alongside one another, one of the straps extending at its endsthrough the openings and having end portions extending outboardly of theopenings against the rear side of said Wall, the other strap extendingat its ends against the forward side of the wall outboardly of -saidopenings, and a rivet extending through adjacent ends-of the straps andsaid front Wall.

5. In a brake beam, a truss structure comprising tension and compressionmembers, said compression member being of channel form and having yagenerally vertical web with openings therethrough adjacent the endsthereof receiving portions of the tension member therethrough, saidtension member having other portions engaged with the forward side ofthe wall, and means connecting said first and second-mentioned portionsto the rear and forward sides of said wall, respectively.

6. A brake beam, according to claim 5, comprising a brake head mountedon each end of the structure, eachhead having `a pocket at its outboardside snugly receiving the adjacent ends of the first andsecond-mentioned portions therein.

'7. In a brake beam, a truss structure comprising tension andcompression members, said tension member having portions extendingthrough said compression member adjacent its ends and said portionsseating against the rear side of said compression member and havingtheir extremities bent forwardly around the ends of the compressionmember, said tension member having other portions bent rearwardly aroundthe ends of the compression member.

8. In a brake beam, a truss structure comprising acompres'sion member, atension meniber .having .portionsgextending atfthe vrear and 1 frontVsides .-'of .saidv compressionpmember .adjacent v each..end thereof,oneofitheadjacent .portions overlapping. the :otheroutboardly of:theadjacent end of the compression; member .and .all portionsoverlapping-the adjacent ends .of the compression member.

z 9;V In a brake beam, a,truss ;structure.compris wing. tension.andcompression..` members,=.;and a `fulcrum interconnecting'. said.members. at approximately the centers'` thereof, said compression:member having. spacedtop yand bottom. Webs and .head having. a.luginzabutment with said vfront r strap, azspacer? disposedywithin saidsocketand in engagement -With said.l top and bottomv Webs, y and arivetextendingthrough said spacer, -top and bottom webs, and said brake headto securely f rfasten each ofsaid brake .heads lto saidtruss.

w10'. Inl a .brake beam, a truss .structure com- -.prising Vtension and.compression .members vand a f fulcrum -interconnecting lsaid lmembersmedial 2 the .ends thereof, said-,compression member having a front wallwith openings adjacent theends fthereof, saidtension .member .hav-.ing aportion extending through thegopenings. and connected i against Y therearf side lof :said g wall, said f tension member. having another:portion connected tothe front. face -of said. wall.

11.-In a brake beam, a truss structure vcom- -prisingy tensionandcompression members and a fulcrum interconnecting .said members.medial the ends-thereoL-said.-compression `member hav- A-ing. a frontwall `with .openings .adjacent the endsthereof,v said A.tension memberhaving a portion extending `throughfthe openings and .connectedagainst-.the .rear sideof said Wall,

said tension memberhaving.anotherportion connected yto the front'faceiofsaid Wall,.said second mentionedA portion .being .bent rearwardly. ratits extremities around'V the ends fof the .compression member to provideflanges bearing ontheir inboard sides againstrespective ends 4of saidwall, said first mentioned portion` being Abent forwardly at itsextremities around respectivey yextremities 'of said secondnmentionedportion toprovide flanges bearing Yatgtheir inboard sides.. against theoutboard sidesof said-anges-on the extremities of said second mentionedportion.

12. In a brake beam, a trussstructure -comprising tension andcompression members and a fulcrum connecting said members medial -theends thereof, said compressionr member having a front wall with openingsadjacent the ends thereof, said tension member having a portionextending through thevopeningsand connected againstA the rearside 4ofsaid Wall,'-said-tension member having another' portion Vconnected` tothey front face Yof v said wall, said Y portions having extremitieshooked .around theA ends Vof said compression member.

.13.,In abrakebeam, a truss structure comprising tension and compressionmembers and. a fulcrum. interconnecting said members `Vmedial thereof,said tension member comprising .front and rear straps, said rearstrap-.having end portions extendingthrough the openings and connectedagainst the `rear side ofsaid Wall, said front strap. being connected tothe front face Vof said. wall.

14'. In a brake beam, atruss structure comprising tension andcompression -members interconnected .medial their ends by a strut, saidcompression member comprising spaced top and bottom. Webs and .anintervening rear Wall having openings adj acent; its ends, .saidtensionA member comprising front and rearstraps, said rear strap.extending at its ends throughsaid yopenings and connected against fthebackzside of said rear wall and having itsextremities bent forwardlyaround "the-extremities of .said rear. Wall, said front strap having.its ends connected against the front side `ofsaid-rear. wali and havingits extremities bent rearwardlyy around the extremities of said rear..Wal1, one of-.said strap extremities being bent around the other .ofsaid strap .extremities,a

brake head mounted on each end of. saidtruss.

.said head having aV truss socket for reception of the .truss end,saidtop and bottom Webs being complementally received Within said socket,said brake head having a lug in abutment withrsaid front strap, a spacerdisposed within said socket --and in engagement with the inner sidesurfaces prising-tension and compression members and a fulcruminterconnecting said members medial the ends thereof, .said .compressionmember having spaced top andbottom Webs .and an intervening VWallf .saidWallhaving openings receiving the ends. ofthe, tension membertherethrough, and

- connectionsbetween. said ends of the tension member and the rear'sideof said wall, and a brake head mounted on the end of said structure andhaving a pocket on the outboard side there- .of receiving said tensionmember therein.

-16: In a brake beam, a trussstructure vcomprising tension andcompression members, said compression .member having openingsV adjacentl itsends, said tension member having bifurcated ends embracing the endsofthe compression mem- .ber through said openings, and fastening meansforsecuring said biiurcated ends vto said coml pression member.

. '.17. .In a brakebeam, a trussstructure comprising .tension andcompression rmembers and a fuicrum interconnecting said members medialthe endsthereof, said compression member having openings adjacent itsends, said tension member extendinggatits ends through said openingsagainst the back 4of saidcompression member and :having its extremitiesbent forwardly around the extremities* of-saidcompression member, and

a brake head mounted on each end of the structure, Veach, headcomprising an inboardly facing surface abutment with an outboardlyfacing-surface on the Aadjacent extremity to prevent the -vextremity from-unbendng from around-said compression member.

. 18.1 A brake beam/comprising a truss structure .-havingtension andcompression members, said -cornpression member having openings adjacentits ends, said tension member having bifurcated ends :embracing-theVends of said compression -member and having portions-extending throughVsaid openings, fastening means for securing said 9 10 bifurcated endportions to said compression mem- References Cited in the le of thispatent ber, and a brake head mounted at each end of UNITED STATESPATENTS said truss structure, said brake head having a lug extendinginboardly therefrom and bearing Number Name Date against said tensionmember. 5 690547 Baker Jan' 7 1902 690 824 Baker Jan. 7 1902 19. A brakebeam comprlsmg tension and com- 8131104 H t F b 2,7 1906 pressionmembers, said tension member extend- 823601 Huntoon J e 19 1906 ingthrough the compression member adjacent 867184 B51235011 "Sure 24 1967its ends and against the front and the rear sides 884446 Wu. ep 14 1908of said compression member and around the ends 10 1 mms Apr' thereof.FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date EDWARD J. SIMANEK. 140,643 GreatBritain Apr. 1, 1920

